As part of today’s Android 16 announcement, a week ahead of Google’s I/O conference , the firm has some big news for smartwatch users.
The big design overhaul coming in Android 16, called Material 3 Expressive, is coming to wearables with Wear OS 6.
It’s a very different look and feel for Google’s operating system, which it describes as “emotional UX”, making everything “more fluid, personal and glanceable”.
Android 16 features for phones aren’t a given for Google-powered smartwatches , but it’s nice to see this one rolling out across the different form factors.
One of the problems with matching its phones and watches (as well as third-party devices) is the circular display, but Material 3 Expressive has been designed with this in mind.
On Wear OS 6, it features scrolling animations that trace the curvature of the display, which Google says gives you a sense of depth to make information more accessible.
“We’ve also refreshed daily experiences like using the pin pad and controlling media with motion and responsive feedback,” said Google.
Other Material 3 Expressive elements that will benefit the likes of the Pixel Watch 3 include shape-morphing elements that adapt to the smaller screen size and dynamic colour-theming, which applies to the entire system.
Furthermore, glanceable buttons “stretch to hug the display” making them more space-efficient and tappable. Tiles are also more space-efficient and engaging.
It’s all about making everything more intuitive and quicker.
As well as the new look, Google says that Wear OS 6 bring performance improvements. Specifically, and gladly, it’s more power efficient, so it can deliver up to 10% longer battery life than before.
Google has also confirmed that Gemini is coming to Wear OS, along with a lot of other devices .
These are just part of the enhancements coming in Wear OS 6, which Google says you’ll be able to try first on Pixel devices later this year – including, we can assume, the Pixel Watch 4 .
Author: Chris Martin, Managing Editor, Tech Advisor
Tech Advisor Managing Editor Chris got his break as a reporter at infamous site The Inquirer and has been with us for more than 12 years. With a BA degree in Music Technology, audio is his specialism, but over the years he has reviewed all kinds of gadgets, from smartwatches to mesh Wi-Fi to coffee machines.
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